July 3, 2023, the Order of the Friars Minor Capuchins celebrates their 495th anniversary of existence. It was in July 3, 1528 that, through the good offices of Catherine Cibo, Duchess of Camerino, the Capuchin reform was approved by Pope CIement VII in a brief Exponi nobis given at Viterbo and on the same day officially “sealed,” that is issued in the form of a bull beginning with the words: Religionis Zelus.
To mark this celebration, the Provincial Father of the Friars of Lombardia, Fra. Angelo Borghino addressed the sons of Francis in the following words:
Dear Brothers
Today, July 3, marks the anniversary of the approval of the bull Religionis Zelus. This circumstance offers an opportunity to be reminded of that spirit of “reform” which characterized our beginnings and which continually challenges us as a proper dimension of our journey, both on a personal and fraternal level.
With this we are once again invited to refocus our lives in the following of Christ, obedient, poor and chaste, in order to take on his “form” more and more, through that path of conformation to Christ and to his sentiments towards the Father, which constitutes the ‘heart’ of our life of consecration.
The beauty of following Christ, according to that particular form to which in freedom we have been delivered, will become increasingly persuasive for us and a witness to those who meet us to the extent that the desire for conversion and change in our hearts remains alive and awake.
The anniversary of July 3 comes at the time when the Provincial Council meets again in view of the “List of Appointments and Transfers.” All this is part of that journey of continuous reform to which our very choice of life always leads us back and which, as provincial minister and council, we are called to accompany and support.
May the Immaculate Virgin, patroness of our Order, St. Francis, St. Clare and all our saints, especially Blessed Innocent of Berzo and Blessed Arsenio of Trigolo, accompany our renewed commitment to follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ and to serve the Kingdom of God according to those circumstances and ways to which we will be called.
Fraternally
Brother Angelo Borghino
Minister Provincial
